Along the way, start making a list of things you’re absolutely not willing to compromise on. This will help you focus when/if you find yourself overwhelmed by the many variables.

From standards of living and climate to cultural norms and socially acceptable amounts of office small talk, you can be sure something in your potential new home country will surprise you.

To keep the (unpleasant) surprises to a minimum, make sure you know what to expect in the following five categories (to begin with):

Visa requirements: Look into visa requirements for countries you’re interested in, and find out which companies are ready to sponsor all of the permits and visas you need. (Depending on where you’re from and where you want to go, this step can reach varying levels of complexity. Jobbatical mainly works with companies who offer at least some amount of relocation and immigration help.)

Finances: Smaller salary numbers don’t necessarily equal lower quality of life! Job listings on Jobbatical come with a built-in cost of living breakdown to give you an idea of what to expect when moving between countries with different standards of living.

Accommodation: Many companies hiring internationally will help you find accommodation and some will even make the arrangements and cover the cost for your first month to give you time to find your bearings.

Climate: For some people, weather can be a deal breaker. If you know you absolutely wouldn’t be able to survive a Nordic winter or make it through the hot season in Southeast Asia, be honest with yourself about it.

Cultural differences: Wherever you’re moving to and from, you’re bound to experience some degree of culture shock. It can range from mild (such as an Estonian discovering that Finns go to the sauna even more religiously than they do) to extreme (such as an entirely different belief system and/or set of social norms) and keeping an open mind is vital.

International career mover pro tip: The list of things you’re not willing to compromise on should be a lotshorter than the list of things you are willing to compromise on.

For a detailed list of practical arrangements to make before moving, also check out this handy checklist by Expat Info Desk.

3. Keep applying and keep the faith.

There’s no way around the most mind-numbing part of the job hunt: sending out a giant pile of applications.

And let’s face it: it’s a reality of the job market that you probably won’t be offered most jobs you apply for. Even more annoyingly, you might not hear back at all from many employers.

1. Odd hours: Your interviewer might be several time zones away. Whenever you can, be flexible. No one in their right mind will expect you to be available for an interview at 2AM, but everyone appreciates a little bit of leeway when it comes to scheduling calls from half a world away.

2. Bad connections: Yes, we live in an age of super-fast internet connections and everyone is pretty much expected to be always online. But every now and again, a connection will drop, a call will suffer from anxiety-inducing lag, or you’ll simply sound like a drowning robot.

Do everything in your power to keep lines open: avoid places likely to have choppy connections (that includes Uber rides, by the way—who knew people actually did that?) and test all your tech in advance.

3. Strange accents: You could find yourself speaking to someone whose accent you find difficult to understand (or vice versa, or both ways). This post by travel blogger Hailey Sexton lists some helpful tips for English speakers being interviewed by non-native speakers, but her advice also applies in the opposite situation:

Speak slowly and clearly;

Listen carefully;

Smile;

Have go-to questions ready;

Make a personal connection.

4. Big questions: A “regular” job interview wants you to answer “Why should we hire you,” but an interviewer in another country wants to know:

Why should we invest in relocating you?

That’s a whole other ballgame. It’s a big decision for you, but it’s a big one for the employer too. Be prepared to show them why you’re worth it. In addition to your skills and experience, now’s the time to demonstrate the six personality traits listed under point 1.

5. Just go for it.

Congrats—you got the job! And if you’ve come this far, there’s really nothing for it but to take the leap.

There’s still plenty to do in preparation (expanding on the categories listed in point 2), but now’s the time to take a step back and breathe.

Because when we asked them what they’d say to someone considering finding a job abroad, every single jobbaticler we’ve spoken to has answered with some variation of: